Circuit-breaker.



' No. 837,092. PATENTED NOV. 27, 1906.

' MERRILL. CIROU'IT BREAKER APPLIO ATION FILED 0GT.19, 1905.

a 8 WITNESSES:

J/LM ZW INVENTOR:

,WILLIAM MERRILLJOF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE.

CIRCUIT-BREAKER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 27, 1906.

Application fil d October 19, 1905- Serial No. 283,378-

To 11] who/ii; it may concern:

' Be it known thatI, WILLIAM MERRILL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Wilmington, inthe county of New Castle and State ofDelaware, have invented certain new" and useful Improvements inC1rcuitBreak-- ers, of which the following is a specification.

cuit brealrers wherein means are provided for automatically breakinganelectric circuit a predetermined period of time.

The main object of the invention is to provide a simple and efficientcircuit-breaker which will permit the electric circuit to remain closedfor a longer period of time than has been heretoforeattained.

The invention consists in various novel features of construction and.combination. of parts, which will be hereinafter fully de scribed andclaimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a circuit-breakerembodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section.thereof. Fig. 3 is a transverse section,

as on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4.is a diagrammatic View of theelectrical connections.

1 designates a suitable baseboard, to the under side of which is secureda frame 2. Arranged within the frame 2 and depending from the topthereof is an electroii'iagnet comprising the bridge-piece 4, the coils5 5, and their cores 6 6. Directly below the lower ends of the cores 6 6and pivotally mounted in the frame 2 by pointed screws 7 7 is anarmature-bar 8. This bar 5 rests normally upon the frame 2 in theposition shown in the drawings. When the electromagnet is energized, thebar 8 is. attracted by the cores 6 6 and raised, and when theelcctroinagnet is deenergizcd the bar returns to normal posh tion bygravity. I

Extending between thecoils 5 5 is a movable device, which in the presentembodiment of my invention is a tube 9, containing a liquid, and amovable member orball 10. This tube 9 is pivotally mounted on the frame2 by means of horizontally-arranged pointed screws 11 11, entering thesides of a collar 12, which surrounds the tube 9 intermediate of itsends. 1

One end of the tube 9 extends from the collar-12 directly over thearmature-bar 8, and it rests normally upon said bar and is supportedthereby in a slightly-inclined position, as

in Fig. 4.

a wire 17 and leading from the coils shown in the drawings. In thisnormal position of the tube 9 the ball 10 rests in the lower endthereof, and when the electromagnet is energized the bar 8 is attractedthereby in a-manner to raise the lower end'of the tube and lower theopposite end thereof, thereby reversing the inclination of the tube.When the inclination of the tube is thus reversed, the ball 10 movesslowly toward the opposite end thereof, and when the ball reaches thepoint where it overcomes the weight of that end of the tube from whichit is moving the opposite end of the tube is still further lowered' tothe extreme position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1.

The diameter of the ball 10 is slightly less than the interior diameterof the tube 9, and the movement of the ball through the tube is greatlyretarded by the action of the liquid passing the ball. Thus it will beseen that after the tube has been raised by the bar 8 it will take sometime before the ball moves to the point where it will tilt the tube tothe extreme position shown by dotted lines inFig. 1.

Secured to the bottom of the frame 2 and insulated therefrom is one endof a horizontally-extending flat spring 13, the free end of whichextends upwardly to a po 'tion below the raised portion of the tube 9.This spring bears normally against a contact-pin 14, projecting from thebottom of the frame 2, and when the tube tion shown by dotted linesinFig.1 said tube engages the spring 13 and moves it out of contact withthe pin 14. When the tube 9is merely tilted by the bar 8 and before itis still further tilted by the ball 10, the tube does not engage thespring 14.

IThe coils5 5, the frame 2, and the spring 13 are included in anelectric circuit, as shown Referring to this figure, 15 designates abattery, and 16 a wire leading therefrom to the frame 2, which iselectrically connected to the spring 13 through the pin 14.. Leadingfrom the spring 13 to the coils 5 5 is 5 5 to the battery 15 is a wire18, thus completing the circuit. I

The invention. is especially adapted for use in connection with gas-lighting systems wherein the gas-burners are provided with contactmaking and breaking devices for the purpose of producing sparks to lightth'e burners, and in Fig. 4 l, have shown the wire 18 interrupted byseveral of uch devices, (designated 19.)

The operation briefly described is 1S folgreatly modified withoutdeparting from the 0 lows: When the parts occupy the position shown inthe drawings, the electric circuit is unbroken between the frame 2 andthe spring 13 and is broken at the devices 19. WVhen the circuit iscompleted by one of the devices 19 in lighting a burner the coils 5 5are energized and the armature-bar 8 and therewith the lower end of thetube 9 are raised. If the circuit be immediately broken, as is usuallythe case, the bar.8 and tube 9 return to normal position by gravity. 7If for any reason, due to devices 19 being defective or otherwise, thecircuit should remain closed longer than a predetermined periodof time,the ball 10 will move slowly down the tube until it tilts the tube tothe extreme position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1 thereby causing thetube to engage the spring 13 and move it out of contact with the pin 14,and thus automatically break the circuit, the purpose of thusautomatically breaking the circuitin this instance being to prevent thebattery from becoming exhausted.

v I desire 1t to be understcodthat the invention is not lnnited to usein connection with lighting systems, and, further, I do not limitinvention.

I claim-- 1. In a circuit-breaker, the combination with an electriccircuit, of a support. =1 liquidcontaining movable device thereon. 1member engaged with the liquid and movable by gravity upon said deviceto hold it in two positions, means whereby the position of said deviceis changed when the circuit is closed, and means whereby the mo enuni ofsaid member upon the device in its changed position causes the breakingof the circuit.

2. In a circuit-breaker, the combination with an electric circuit, of asupport, a nun-- ahlc liquid-containing tube tin-r0011, a ball withinthe tube and movable by -i'evity to hold the tube in two positions,nit-iiizsv hereby the position oi the tube is changed when the circuitis closed, and means n'lwreirv the movement of the ball within the lubein its changed position causes the breating of the circuit.

In testimony whereof I :iilix my signature in presence oftwo witnesses.

VVl LLIAM Mil RR ll .l itDeSSesZ CHARLES GREEN, Fnitxcrs S. Bnanniiv

